Hiring a Coach

It is important that you clearly communicate your club values, the behaviours you expect, and that you are a student-led club throughout the recruitment process to help identify the right candidate. 

Your chosen coach will need copies of their:

• Appropriate National Governing Body Qualifications for your sport to lead activities.

• Public Liability Insurance (often provided by the sport NGB)

Please use the York SU template contract and fill in the appropriate details.

Coaches will then be asked by York SU to:

• Complete a Basic DBS check (paid for by York SU).

• Complete a Right to Work check

• Complete the York SU safeguarding module

• Review and agree to the Associate Code of Conduct, Disciplinary Procedure and Coaches Code of Practice.

Gathering this information will be coordinated by the York SU Sports Development Coordinator, although if there are delays we may ask you to help contact the individual. If you have any queries please email sportsadmin@yorksu.org.

By agreeing to work with your club the coach is agreeing to abide by our  Associate Code of Conduct, Disciplinary Procedure and Coaches Code of Practice.

We would recommend setting appropriate boundaries to ensure a professional relationship can be maintained and the safety of all individuals involved in the activity. Here are some key areas to consider:

• Communication: Agreeing when and how the coach should communicate with the committee. It is best practice that the coach should not be included in any club or team group chats with members, especially if through these they would gain access to all students personal information. You might want to consider a private group with key committee members, or using email.

• Meetings: We would recommend that meetings with coaches should not be done on an individual basis, and that there should be at least two students present. Meetings should be done in an appropriate and pre-arranged environment. If you are talking to your coach about actions you want them to take, we would recommend writing these down and sharing in writing with all participants after the meeting.

• Changing Rooms: We would recommend that your coach is only allowed into changing spaces at agreed times, and this should be made clear at the start of the coaching relationship. Boundaries and respect of changing spaces should be reinforced.

• Social Activities: We would strongly recommend that coaches do not attend regular social activities as this can lead to boundaries being crossed and potential for inappropriate behaviour.

• Feedback to players: You should agree with your coach and players how feedback should be given and received, this should always be done in an appropriate environment and constructively.

• Values: Your coach should epitomise your club values at all times and help to ensure participants do the same.

If you need any further support in recruiting or working with your coach then please contact York SU at sportsadmin@yorksu.org We will also offer semesterly check in meetings with clubs who have employed a coach.